Apparatus and method for modifying fabricated bolsters to provide ride stabilization



March 1951 c. w. WULFF ETA]. 25976622 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING FABRICATED BOLSTERS TO PROVIDE, RIDE STABILIZATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1958 =z llllllllllllllll l R nvvrsmom.

Mar h 28, 19 w. WULFF ETAI. 2 976,822

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING FABRICATED BOLSTERS TO PROVIDE RIDE STABILIZATION Filed July 1, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS March 28, 1961 c. w. WULFF ETAI. 2, 7 2

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING FABRICATED BOLSTERS TO PROVIDE RIDE STABILIZATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 1, 1958 INVENTORS.

Unite APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING FABRICATED BOLSTERS TO PROVIDE RIDE STABILIZATION Filed July 1, 1958, Ser. No. 745,970

3 Claims. (Cl. 105-197) This invent on relates to apparatus for converting railway car trucks of a type having fabricated bolsters, such, for example, as a pressed steel bolster as distinguished from a cast steel bolstcr to incorporate friction control of bolster movement, and the invention also relates to the method of converting such trucks. More particularly, this invention is concerned with providing conversion apparatus for direct insertion in fabricated bolsters to function both in housing and supporting loading spring and friction block devices and as a structural reinforcement to maintain required bolster end strength.

Experience has taught that freight cars having conventional car trucks which do nct employ any type of frictional control for bolster movement do not properly protect against lading damage and themselves suffer undue depreciation due to the rough ride that is permitted by the undamped bolster. Most new trucks that are sold today incorporate some type of bolster damping mechanism, but there are still many thousands of freight cars in operation today which incorporate no type of bolster control, and there is a growing need for a simple yet effective way to convert these trucks into the equivalent of the new ride-stabilized trucks.

Patent No. 2,682,232 discloses a method for modifying existing railway car trucks of the type which employ a cast steel bolster or a bolster of equivalent construction, but the method therein disclosed is not applicable to fabricated bolsters of the pressed steel type. This is because fabricated bolsters have structural members and reinforcement ribs at the sides of the bolster and it is not feasible to cut a hole completely through the side of the bolster to mount the frictional devices for engagement with the side-frame columns as disclosed in this patent.

Cost is an increasingly important factor with railroads today, and the principal object of this invention therefore is to provide a simple and inexpensive arrangement for converting pressed steel bolsters or similarly fabricated types of bolsters to bolsters which incorporate ride stabilizing devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a particular arrangement of structural members that may conveniently be incorporated in existing fabricated bolsters of the type mentioned and which serve the dual purpose States Patent of housing the ride-stabilizing devices and reinforcing I and strengthening the bolster end.

Other objects of the invention include the following: to provide for'converting such fabricated bolsters of the undamped type of bolsters incorporating ride stabilization with minimum cost of materials and labor in effecting such conversion; and to provide structural members and a method of application for use therewith which are applicable to various types of fabricated bolsters (again as distinguished from the unitary cast steel bolsters).

Other objects and advantages will become apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame;

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Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic before and after perspective illustration of one end of a fabricated bolster illustrating the apparatus and method of incorporating friction damping in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of a freight car truck that includes a fabricated bolster after conversion thereof and incorporation therein of ride-stabilizingdevices;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a top view corresponding to the view of Fig. 2 but illustrating an alternative bolster conversion in accordance with this invention, with parts broken away and sectioned; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 2 thereof, the opposing fore and aft spaced side-frame columns 10 of a conventional type freight car truck define a bolster opening within which a truck bolster 13 is resiliently supported for cushioned vertical movement.

The bolster 13 is shown, in accordance with this invention, provided with a pair of oppositely acting friction systems, generally designated as 14, which cooperate with the adjacent side-frame columns 1t thatpreferably are provided with suitable wear plates-10W welded or otherwise secured thereon to provide friction control of bolster movement.

Thebolster 13 is of a fabricated type commonly referred to as a pressed steel bolster and in its original or unmodified form is shown in more complete detail in Fig. 1462 on page 643 of the 1922 edition of Car Builders Cyclopedia.

Reference is now made to Fig. 1, the left portion of which illustrates the details of the original bolster construction and the right portion of which illustrates the manner of incorporating the friction systems 14.

The pressed steel bolster as originally constructed includes a main body member 16 of generally U-shaped configuration forming the bottom wall 17 and left and right vertical walls 18 and 19, respectively, of the bolster, with the vertical walls having oppositely, outwardly bentover upper edges forming integral securement flanges 18F and 19F. A top plate member 20 spans the bottom member and has fore and aft edge portions 20A andZiiF, respectively, overlying and secured to the securement flanges. Finally, one-piece cast steel bolster guides 21 overlie and are secured to' the vertical walls of the bolster and carry vertical guide flanges 21F for cooperation with the side-frame columns 10 in limiting the lateral movement of the bolster, and a pan-shaped reinforcing member 22 is fixed within the bolster end in direct abutment be-' surmountable prior to this invention. In accordance with the invention, the bolster is modified to incorporate friction devices that cooperate with the sideframe and provide a three-way control of bolster movement, i.e., vertical; lateral, and longitudinal. This is accomplished by removing the pan member 22 from within the bolster end and removing the cast steel bolster guides 21 to expose the vertical walls 18 and 19-of the bolster, and a generally oval-shaped hole 23 is then cut through each of these vertical walls to prepare the bolster end for the incorporation: of the friction systems 14.. y

- In the preferred form otFigs. 2 and 3, .a one-piece tube 24, preferably of a generally oval cross-sectional configuration, is mounted within the bolster end with opposite ends thereof directly abutting the vertical walls 18 and 19 of the bolster in immediately surrounding relation to the holes 23. The tube is fixed in place by welding the ends directly to the vertical walls of the bolster. In the preferred practice of this invention, it is advantageous to avoid having to remove the outer end of the cover plate 20 while installing the ride-stabilizing facilities. Access may be had through the end of the bolster to provide a seam of weld 24W between the vertical bolster walls and the exposed outer peripheral regions of the tube ends and, if desired, access may be had through V the holes 23 for providing a seam of Weld W between the vertical bolster walls and the inner peripheral regions of the tube ends.

The tube is thus secured within the bolster end to provide a rigid housing opening through the vertical walls of the bolster and in the preferred arrangement the tube 24 is slightly larger than the holes 23 that are cut out of these vertical walls and extends therebetween to function as a compression member that provides desired structural reinforcement of the bolster end. By virtue of this particular arrangement, the holes 23 which are cut out of the bolster may be of minimum size relative to the size of the friction devices to be employed, and this is desirable for maintaining adequate bolster end strength, a substantial portion of which is supplied by the vertical walls of the bolster.

To complete the conversion of the bolster, open-centered, one-piece bolster guide castings C are applied to the vertical walls of the bolster and each such casting includes an open-centered frame 26 surrounding the open end of the tubing and the hole 23 and projecting therebeyond to form a pocket 26F, spaced apart vertical guide flanges 27 integrally flanking the frame and projecting therebeyond to embrace the side-frame columns, and vertical and horizontal integral webs 28, 29 and 30 for securement to the adjacent portions of the bolster.

In the illustrated arrangement, the bolster is shown with a plurality of rivet holes 13H, and accordingly the unitary casting C is formed with registering holes H in its various webs to facilitate securem'ent thereof to the bolster by riveting or similar means.

It should be noted, however, that the rivets removed from the two holes 13H immediately overlying the cutout hole 23 are not replaced, since this would cause con flict with the casting C. If desired, weld may be deposited in these vacant holes.

In the preferred form of the invention, each of the friction devices preferably includes a conventional coil spring 31 that is received and housed within the end of the tube 24 and a friction block 32 that is received within the pocket 26Ptdefined by the frame and spring-loaded into engagement against the wear plate'ltlW on the adjacent column of the side frame. The friction block is provided with a central projection 32F extending rearwardly therefrom and having a horizontal slot 33 adjacent its extremity for receiving a retention bar'B that is used in retracting the block to facilitate mounting or removal of thebolster from the side frame. The rear face of the block serves as a spring seat for the outer end of the coil spring and'integral ears 325 project from the block in surrounding relation to the spring seat surface to aid in locating'the coil spring 31 and, more importantly, to maintain the positioning of the block within the housing.

When applied with these friction devices, the tube 24 includes a fixed pair of plates 35 forming internal, trans-' verse walls, each of which has acentral opening 36 accommodating the block projection and each forming a spring seat surrounding this opening forthe inner end of the coil spring. Access to the slot 33 in the projection 32Rwith a retention bar is provided by pairs of registering slots 248 formed in the tubeintermediately of the pair of plates 35. V For each friction device, the tube 24 is also preferably provided with one or more upwardly and inwardly inclined ramps 37 that facilitate the inser' tion and positioning of the coil spring.

With the above-described arrangement, the position of the inner end of the coil spring is determined by the plate 35 and ramps 37 and sufficient clearance is provided between the tube and the coil spring to accommodate unimpeded lateral flexing of the spring. Similarly, the friction block is mounted in the pocket 26? with periph eral clearance to permit of limited freedloating action thereof in following the relative tipping or tilting movements of the bolster relative to the side frame.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown an alternative conversion arrangement for housing and loading the coil springs. In this form of the invention, the spring housing is constituted by a three-piece plate arrangement comprising a bottom plate 41 and inner and outer vertical plates 42 and 43, all of which extend into direct abutment between the vertical walls of the bolster to also function as a structural reinforcement for the bolster end. The three plates are preferably welded in place, and access for this may be had through the end of the bolster with the inner plate 42 first being inserted and secured at both ends by a seam of Weld 42W, with the bottom plate 41 next being inserted and secured at both ends by a seam of weld 41W, with the outer plate 43 being inserted and secured at both ends by a seam of weld 43W. The bottom plate is formed with upwardly and inwardly inclined ramps 47 adjacent each end thereof and open-centered spring seat plates 46 are disposed between the ramps and also are welded in place. For convenience, the spring seat plates 46 may be inserted before the outer plate 43. The outer and inner plates are also formed with registering pairs of openings 48 providing access clearance for a retention bar for engaging and retracting the friction block.

It will be noted that once again the holes that are cut out in the vertical walls of the bolster are generally oval and are of minimum size consistent with operating clearance requirements for the coil spring.

It should be understood that the bolster conversion, in accordance with this invention, may be variously modified to accommodate other damping systems. For example, friction systems are available wherein the retention projection is at the top of the block or, alternatively, where a retainer pin is passed laterally through the body of the block for temporarily securing the same. It will also be apparent that the friction damping-system may be of the type having-a movable spring seat within the housing with appropriately shaped loading bars inserted between the transverse inner wall and the movable spring seat for loading the coil spring. 7

This invention is also applicable to pressed steel bolsters of the type having a cover plate the opposite ends of which slope downwardly and outwardly into the region between the vertical walls of. the bolster body member. Such bolsters are shown at Fig. 1461 on page 643 and Fig. 1463 at page 644 of the 1922 edition of Car Builders Cyclopedia." With these bolsters, the sloping end portions of the cover plate are bent up to provide mounting clearance for the friction systems and after mounting of the friction systems, are bent back to. an approximately horizontal dispositionand secured in place or, preferably, the end sections are removed and replaced with new end sections, as desired. i

, It will be apparent that the objects of the invention ferred form of the invention is for the purpose of complying with Section 112, Title 35, of the US. Code and that the claims should be construed as broadly as prior art will permit.

We claim:

1. In a railway car truck of the type having a side frame provided with a bolster opening defined in part by a side frame column: the combination with a bolster of undamped construction resiliently supported in said bolster opening for cushioned movement therein, said bolster being of a fabricated type comprising a plurality of structural members formed separately and secured together by riveting or equivalent means, said structural members including a lower body member of generally U-shaped configuration forming bottom and vertical walls; of damping means mounted on one of said vertical walls at a location adjacent and facing said column for frictionally engaging the column to dampen movement of the bolster, the wall mounting said device having an opening therein at a point adjacent and facing said column, said damping means comprising wall structure fixed within said bolster to form a rigid housing having an open outer end in register with said opening, a one-piece bolster casting secured to said bolster and having an open-centered frame overlying the exterior of said one vertical wall in registering relation to said opening andincluding vertically extending guide flanges flanking said opening and carrying attachment webs disposed inwardly of said guide flanges for engagement with said one vertical wall at points flanking said opening, and a damping device comprising a friction block mounted at the open end of said housing, and spring means in said housing reacting at one end against a spring seat and reacting at its other end against the friction block to urge the friction block into engagement with said column.

2. In a railway car truck of the type having a side frame provided with a bolster opening defined by fore and aft spaced side frame columns: the combination with a bolster of undamped construction resiliently supported in said bolster opening for cushioned movement therein, said bolster being of a fabricated type comprising a plurality of structural members formed separately and secured together by riveting or equivalent means, said structural members including a lower body member of enerally U-shaped configuration forming bottom and vertical walls; of damping means mounted on each vertical wall at a location adjacent and facing the corresponding side frame column for frictionally engaging the corresponding column to dampen movement of the bolster, each vertical wall having an opening therein at a point adjacent and facing its corresponding column, said damping means comprising rigid wall structure fixed within the bolster to provide a spring housing having opposite outer ends open and in register with said openings, said wall structure having its opposite ends in end wise abutment with portions of said vertical walls bordering opposite sides of each of said openings, a separate one-piece bolster guide casting secured to each vertical wall and each having an open-centered frame in registering relation to the opening in its vertical bolster wall, each bolster guide casting including vertically extending guide flanges flanking the opening in its vertical wall and carrying attachment webs disposed inwardly of said guide flanges for engagement with such vertical wall at points flanking said opening, a separate friction block mounted at each end of said housing, and separate spring means in each end of said housing and each reacting at one end against the adjacent friction block and reacting at its other end against a spring seat for urging .the friction blocks into engagement with said columns.

3. A modified fabricated bolster construction wherein said bolster is of a type comprising a plurality of structural members formed separately and secured together by riveting or equivalent means, said structural members including a main body member of generally U-shaped configuration forming the bottom and vertical walls of the bolster; the improvement wherein each of said vertical walls of the bolster has a hole therein, said holes being in register with each other in a direction transversely of the bolster, a spring housing located within said bolster extending in a direction transversely of said bolster and in alignment with said holes into direct abutment with portions of said vertical walls immediately bordering opposite sides of each of said holes, and a separate one-piece bolster guide casting is carried externally on each vertical wall, each casting comprising an open-centered frame in registering relation to the holes in its vertical bolster wall, said frame projecting exteriorly of its vertical bolster wall in a direction transversely of said bolster to form a mounting pocket for a friction block means and integral vertical guide flanges flanking said pocket for guiding cooperation with an adjacent side frame column.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,161,513 Hammerstrom June 6, 1939 2,408,866 Marquardt Oct. 8, 1946 2,682,232 Wullf June 29, 1954 

